As humans, we have a natural inclination to focus on the negative. In our evolution to becoming who we are, this worked out pretty well. When we experienced something negative and remembered it, we then tended to avoid it in the future. It was (is) a great survival technique.
However, when we focus on the negative, we have a harder time seeing the positive in things. This leads to decreased motivation and even a decreased perception that we can handle new situations.
Luckily, we can change our brains. Our brains have a characteristic called neuroplasticity. This basically means our brains have the ability to adapt and change. We have the ability to shift our mindset to seek out positives so that our brains are better able to spot the day to day little victories that we should be celebrating in our lives.
Spot the wins every day. Did you park farther away from the mall so that you would have to walk further? Did you take the stairs instead of the elevator? Did you shut your phone off 1 hour before going to bed in order to de-techify before getting your nightly slumber? These are all wins! By training your brain to spot thee wins, you are training your brain to seek out future wins and you generate more positivity.
Make spotting wins a habit. As with any habit, there some things you can do to help yourself along.
· Start small. Identify your long-range goal and then identify the small steps you need to accomplish to get you there
· Write down your wins in a journal. “I drank my water”; “I started my day with a walk”; “I started a gratitude journal”. These are all possibilities.
· When you have identified your win, celebrate it! Share your victory with a friend. Do something nice just for you like renting a favourite movie or having a spa day.
Remember, celebrating wins makes you more optimistic and positive. Seeking out your wins keeps you motivated.
At DarcyFit, we practice creating new habits, just like this one, that help you toward your goals. I now offer a 14-day free trial to online training. Online training isn’t for everybody but it’s perfect for somebody so you have nothing to lose by trying. Contact me for more info
